San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-06-28
THE CITY DADS.
Wrestle with the Pernicious Contract
System-A Lively Meeting and
Much Debate.

PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
X. }. Hand asked for a permit to lay ser
vice pipe from 2lUI West Houston street,
along Houston street 10 NucCes 10 the water
main on Commerce street. Committee on gas
and water.
otto Rcider for remission of fine imposed
by the recorder. Police committee.
CitzCus for the widening of Duval street,
between blackberry and Olive streets, or CON
timue an alley from Sherman to Duvm street
Referred.
Juan SaIas, for reduction Of assessment
Assessment committee.
Barbara A. Schmidt, for remission OF her
assessment for 1876. Assessment committee.
Mrs. = q. SChwaTZ and II. Tournat, Tor re-
ductiOn of assessment on account OF widening
South Flores street Assessment committee
AUGUST LimburgeT to open meat market
on Milan street. Market committee.
Henry Lmbcrgcr, to transfer, his meat stall
on the corner OF Crockett and Chestnut streets
to Leopold Picard. Market committee.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
The mayor said that IN short while the
S5HUO for street improvements would he at
md, and asked the council To say how II
shall be expended. by contract or by the Guy.
Smyc moved that the city do the work.
Degener amended that the work be done by
contract SCCOndCdby kaltCyCr.
Smyc said ii was a well known fact that
many people were out of work, and he be-
cvcd that the work should be done by people
in the city who were in need Of work. Con
tractors could import cheap labor.
Gallagher said 1t was the same old question
in the same shape IL had been referred TO
committee, who made no report, and the
chairman Is absent. II looks !. Ike ignoring
him and his report. feel that the work can
be done cheaper and better by the city than
by the contractors. The work already zone is
had, and should meet the condemnation OF the
city.
The mayor interrupted to say that the u per
cent would not be paid until the work was re-
ccivCd by the city.
not be paid, and shows that the contract work
is not what it should be. want to see our
home people do the work at fair wages, say
about 81 ID per day. Contractors pay SluD and
less for poor wOrkmCn. He wanted to see the
palC-ChCckCd people in lone cottages paid - or
- per week to cheer the people at home. II"
had seen people working for contractors 60
home without any money on saturday night
and tell their wives they would have TO wait Il
while for the money.
Schrcner wanted to know if the balance of
the committee could not make report.
The MAYOR ga he wanted the question set
tied. IL had been before the committee
month. he money is near at hand. and the
matter should be determined us soon as pos
siblC.
Smyc spoke in favor of the city doing the
work, citing that San Pedro avenue had been
improved by the city by day work. which was
better work and more economical.
Schrcncr was called to the chair. the
mayor said that his experience showed that
contract work was the best and the cheapest
The aldermen should see that the spCclhca-
tons are made properly and the work done
according to contract. Also see that your Of
that the contracts may be carried out prop
CrIy.
Gallagher got the floor again and said the
contractors used city tools and city material
and made money on city capital. He called ii
a vicious, vile contract system. You have got
Il lot Of had work on hand, and now you want
to do the same thing again Turn il loose,
then.
smyc again urged that the work done by the
city was lar superior to that done by the con-
tractors. Contractors are sometimes unscru-
IIIDIIs in their efforts make the dollars
DCgCnCr explained his substitute, stating
that il was intended to cover only the 500
special Appropriation available for the fiscal
year of 1873, which ne desired to be expended
under the contract plan.
Tn" substitute was adopted 10y the following
vote:
Ayes Conner, DcgCnCr, GueTguin. kultcyer,
MuuCrmaun, Richcy and Schrciner.
NHyS-GallaghCr kcimann and Smyc.
SmyC wanted to know if SChrcinCT had Il
right to vote, he being then in the chair.
SChreiucr ruled that he had right to vote
twice. once by reason Of being an alderman,
ami again as mayor pro TEN. in case of a tie.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Schrcinpr and Smye of the finHnc" commit
tee. recommended that the mayor hc author
iIud To issue notes Of the CITY To the amount
g sijum per month for the ensuing fiscal
year adopted.
PETITIONS AND CRDINAH CEs.
Gallagher recommended that hotel keepers
he not allowed to have pOrtcrs AT the IA lrOud
dcpots tor solicitation of passengers. Adopt
ed.
The committee recommended that J. d. Nor
rjsOn's Instructions on Romano and Dallas
streets he removed at once. Adopted.
STREETS AND BRIDGES.
The street commissioners report was found
correct and ordered filed.
The committee recommended that the en-
ginCCr make map of Mitchell street showing
HIlCucrOachmCnts. Adopted
The crossing OF the AIaZan creek at LOm-
bran street was ordered improved. to make
the 'Ossing more available for crossing 10y
the IMndCra road.
FIRE AND FIRE LIMITS.
Petitions for building permits from Anna
Witzcl, Jas. stevens, and HaTuisch Hacr
were, granted. Like petitions from MIR. Me
Donald and MIR. Price were rejected.
ASSESSMENTS.
Ed Stoves petition for remission of taxes
| on account Of an error, was granted.
g. W. MaltZbcrgCT petition for remission
| OF taxes on personal property, the property
| having been removed to La Sale county, was
| laid over to the next meeting.
POLICE.
The pound masters report was found cor
| rect and ordered filed. The maTshans in=pcc-
| tors and the iailers reports were likewise Or
| dcrcd filed, having been found correct.
| \. EllIs' fine before the recorder was order
| ed reunited.
GAS AND WATER.
fire hydrant was ordered at the corner OF
| quincy street and Main avenue.
Water mains were ordered one block on
| Laredo and PcCUs streets, residents being in
| need of pure water for drinking and cooking
purposes.
TELEGRAPHS AND TELEPHONES.
The Erie company was granted permits to
| put up .1-iOOt poles in the eastern portion
| Of the city, positions of poles to be designated
| by the committee.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS.
| The engineer reported that the Pine street
bridge would cost SIS. and the pipe dams
! SD. TIE work was ordered.
The engineer reported that the work on
| Monterey street would cost -. Committee
| on streets and Bird es.
| The city attorney reported an amendment TO
| section H. chapter 10, providing a fine of not
| less than 50 nor more than 500 for persons
| using water from the irrigating bitches not
authorized to do so, and holds them liable for
damages to tn party to whom the water be
! longs. Referred to the committee on petitions
| aud ordinances and ordered printed one time.
| In answer to u resolution by SchrenCr that
| he be ordered to investigate If Mrs. V. {.
| OstrOm has sold lots from land formerly be-
| longing to the city where there is money due
on the purchase, and If the interest and taxes
! on said land have been paid, the city attorney
| reported as follows:
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. June p, 1887
| To the Honorable Mayor and Board OF Alder
| men:
| GENTLEMEN accordance with your res
| OlutiOn, upon investigation, that judgment
| was rendered in favor of the city, fOI GClOsiTg
| lien on lots II and 10, range ], district g.
| which judgments with DCCrest now amount to
| S3lO5, being the same lots now claimed by Mrs
| city at various times sums aggrcgating up 10
| date the sum of $3.50 81, emitting her TO a
| credit on the said judgments with interest to
| date in the sum of S4G2 81, leaving balance
| still due to the city of S194236. For the amount
| thus paid in she holds releases from the city
to "a lots out Of said original city lots II and -,